feelings and forced himself to wear a cheerful demeanor--much too
cheerful for the taste of Adam and Dan, who were more concerned with
what their neighbors would think than they were with the subtleties of
Samuel's faith.

The boy had been doing a great deal of thinking that winter; and after
the funeral he called a council of the family.

"Brothers," he said, "this farm is too small for three men. Dan wants
to marry already; and we can't live here always. It's just as Manning
said--"

"I don't want to hear what that skunk said!" growled Adam.

"Well, he was right that time. People stay on the land and they divide
it up and get poorer and poorer. So I've made up my mind to break
away. I'm going to the city and get a start."

"What can you do in the city?" asked Dan.

"I don't know," said Samuel. "I'll do my best. I don't expect to go to
Wall Street and make my fortune."

"You needn't be smart!" growled Dan.

But the other was quite innocent of sarcasm. "What I mean is that I'll
have to work," said he. "I'm young and strong, and I'm not afraid to
try. I'll find somebody to give me a chance; and then I'll work hard
and learn and I'll get promoted. I've read of boys that have done
that."